Introduction
Research Questions
- Do healthy relationship curricula include education on IPV and TDV
- How do healthy relationship programs define and describe their approaches to addressing IPV and TDV?
- How do healthy relationship programs and domestic violence programs collaborate?
- What IPV or TDV-related training do healthy relationship programs provide staff?
- How do healthy relationship programs identify and respond to participants who are experiencing domestic violence?
This paper reviews the approaches used by ACF-funded healthy relationship programs from 2011-2015 to address intimate partner violence (IPV) and teen dating violence (TDV). It synthesizes information about the healthy relationship programs’ IPV and TDV education, protocols, and trainings for staff, as well as collaborations between healthy relationship and domestic violence programs.
This study found that almost all the healthy relationship programs had protocols in place for identifying and responding to IPV or TDV, but these protocols varied widely. Similarly, most programs required IPV or TDV trainings for staff, but the quality, quantity, and content varied. Findings suggested that programs could benefit from additional guidelines for specifically addressing IPV and TDV in diverse programs and specific TA to develop staff skills and protocols.
Purpose
Four major ACF-funded studies found that IPV and TDV experiences were common among the populations served by healthy relationship programs. This paper describes how healthy relationship programs funded by ACF from 2011-2015 addressed these experiences in their protocols.
This work lays a foundation for the Responding to Intimate Violence in Relationship Programs (RIViR) project. The project aimed to understand how healthy relationship programs influence domestic violence, propose parameters for IPV assessment tools and surrounding protocols, and field test these tools and protocols in healthy relationship programs.
Key Findings and Highlights
This research revealed seven key themes about domestic violence in healthy marriage programs:
- Healthy relationship program staff can expect disclosures of abuse at various points during a program, and partnering with domestic violence programs can help create appropriate response plans.
- Most relationship education curricula address domestic violence, but attention is needed to cultural responsiveness, community context, and same-sex relationships.
- Most healthy relationship programs have developed domestic violence protocols, often in collaboration with local domestic violence programs, but protocols vary widely.
- Youth-focused programs face unique challenges like finding curricula focused specifically on youth needs, developing responses to disclosure of domestic violence within a public-school setting, and addressing norms around violence in youth culture.
- Most healthy relationship programs require domestic violence training for staff, though the quality, content, and amount of training differs.
- Partnerships between healthy relationship programs and local domestic violence programs can be instrumental in the development of a comprehensive approach to domestic violence.
- Given the diversity of programs, specific TA could help healthy relationship program staff develop the skills and protocols necessary for their roles in linking those experiencing domestic violence to resources.
Methods
To understand existing healthy relationship grantee approaches to addressing domestic violence, this study employed five data collection techniques:
- A review of grantee documents
- A review of frequently used curricula
- Healthy relationship grantee interviews
- Technical assistance provider interviews
- Curriculum developer interviews
Analytic methods focused on descriptive analysis and were primarily qualitative.
Glossary
Domestic violence program: Domestic violence programs are community-based service organizations that provide a wide range of direct services for people experiencing domestic violence.
Healthy relationship program: A healthy relationship program implements healthy marriage and relationship education and related activities.
Intimate partner violence: Physical, sexual, or psychological harm, or reproductive coercion by a spouse, partner, or former partner.
Teen dating violence: Physical, sexual, or psychological harm, reproductive coercion, or similar abuses when they occur in youth dating experiences, typically among middle and high school aged youth.
Citation
Krieger, K., McKay, T., Grove, L., & Bir, A. (2016). “Addressing Intimate Partner Violence in Healthy Relationship Programs: Current Approaches. (RIViR Paper #2: Current Approaches),” OPRE Report #2016-41, Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.